Honestly, I think I’m in love with the man. His quote has saved me so often from quitting a task or quitting a story or actually, quitting anything. I wear a sterling silver bracelet around my left wrist that has his words engraved on it.

One day I was weary of rejection. I thought maybe it’s time to change my focus to something else, perhaps a part-time job, a new volunteer gig. My bracelet literally grabbed me by the wrist and said, “Darla, listen here, are you crazy? Your book is good, now go find a publisher!” So thanks Winston for always being there for me and the zillions of others who cherish your words.

I don’t want to run around on Winston, but quite honestly the real love of my life is Thomas A. Edison. His quote that I am forever indebted to is:

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

If you break your projects and goals down into small increments, it’s much easier to accomplish them. Eventually you can eat a whole elephant if you do it one day at a time. (Okay, that’s not original, but it’s accurate!)

Earlier in my life a large project loomed over me and it was going to take several years to accomplish.

I had heard the story of The Wall of China and how it was built one brick at a time. And all of you are familiar with that amazing structure. It was not built at one time, but was rather joined after several had been built. But I love the idea of the one brick at a time. I have continued to let it inspire me. I have a weathered 5 x 7 card with one thought: “The Wall of China.” That has motivated me tremendously.

Of course, if you’re lucky and you have people around you to inspire you, wonderful things happen.

One night when I was still a newbie at the Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America meeting, several people had mentioned their editors, their agents, their books being published and I had little to report. A member I barely knew, on his way to refill his coffee cup, bent down and whispered to me:

“Don’t ever give up and don’t throw anything away. You’ll use it later.”

Now that’s what I’m talking about. Good advice, support, inspiration, and instant motivation!

2 thoughts on “Motivation is like coffee. Grab it and Go!”

You are absolutely right, Darla! Trying to write a novel, and then get it published, can feel as overwhelming as attempting to build the Wall of China, but when it happens, it’ll be worth all the hard work! One word at a time!

Great quotes, Darla and wonderful observations. Everything begins with the first step and then another and another. And every story starts with page one and then page two. The important thing is to keep writing those pages.